Flight crew released from Nav Center quarantine

OTTAWA/CORNWALL – The flight crew who transported Canadians from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan back to their home country have been released from quarantine.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, announced her decision on Wednesday to release the 15 flight crew members.

“In my assessment, I took into account the fact that they followed appropriate infection prevention and control protocols (including the use of personal protective equipment), and that they did not have unprotected contact with passengers or persons at risk of having the novel coronavirus,” Tam said in a statement.

The 15 are in addition to six Canadian Armed Forces medical staff and one federal government employee allowed to leave on Sunday (Feb. 23) under similar circumstances.

The 14-day quarantine for the 129 repatriated Canadians will be done on Friday, March 6.